Greek authorities arrest two teenagers for involvement in an international abuse network

On Thursday, June 18, 2026, the Hellenic Police Cybercrime Unit arrested two 17-year-old suspects in Crete and Thessaloniki. The operation followed a digital investigation conducted in collaboration with the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Homeland Security Investigations. The suspects are accused of belonging to an organized, international extremist network that systematically targeted minors. Investigators state the individuals used social media to threaten and blackmail young girls into producing pornographic material. Beyond digital extortion, the group allegedly exerted psychological pressure to force victims into self-harm, including carving the perpetrators' pseudonyms into their skin. In some instances, the network reportedly encouraged victims to engage in suicidal behavior. The suspects are currently facing charges related to child pornography, extortion, and psychological abuse.